According to 19th century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, “All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self-evident.”
The problem with that quote is that it is all too often adopted by people who wish to use it to prove that their pet "ridiculed" or "violently opposed" idea is one of those that will become self-evident, when in fact, it states nothing of the kind.
Many theories that are ridiculed deserve it.
Many ideas that are violently opposed should never see the light of day again.
Very, very few of those that reach either the first or the second stage ever make it to the third, and it is a classic logical fallacy to argue that being ridiculed implies that an idea will be proven true in the end.
Oh that's a fact right there. Take any piece of evidence or information, if it is ridiculed too much or violently opposed, and has been for ages, but no one forgot it, then it's probably true or partially true.
Many theories that are ridiculed deserve it.
Many ideas that are violently opposed should never see the light of day again.
Very, very few of those that reach either the first or the second stage ever make it to the third, and it is a classic logical fallacy to argue that being ridiculed implies that an idea will be proven true in the end.